The Children Mock Elisha

The Children Mock Elisha

Q: What pair of animals attacked the children who mocked Elisha for his baldness?

• a. tigers
• b. lions
• c. bears

Kids can be cruel. If you’ve ever been the victim of a bully, you know that. Some bullies physically harm their peers. Some bullies use words to hurt people, or they get others to ignore or make fun of a peer who is different. Sometimes bullies even make fun of the elderly or those who have a disability.

Things weren’t much different in Elisha’s day. One day after Elisha had done his first miracle of purifying water for some people, he was walking along the road. A group of more than 40 boys started mocking him for his baldness. They chanted, “Go away, baldy!” over and over.

The boys weren’t just teasing Elisha. They were showing disrespect for Elisha’s message and his God. Jeering at God’s messenger cost the boys their lives. Elisha cursed them in the name of the Lord, and God sent bears that mauled the boys.

God doesn’t always immediately punish those who make fun of his chosen leaders, but in this case he sent a strong message that Elisha was his prophet declaring the Lord’s word to others.

For You

God was angry with the boys who showed disrespect to his message and messenger. God still wants young people to respect their spiritual leaders, so if you are ever tempted to make fun of a pastor, youth leader, or Sunday school teacher, you might want to rethink that. Give them respect to honor God.

Answer: c

Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!” Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.   2 Kings 2:23-24

(The Whole Story: 2 Kings 2:19-25)